Background

Superstorm Sandy presented one of the greatest operational and coordination challenges in the history of the State 6 million cubic yards of debris 2+ million customers without power 400,000 evacuations Thousands of housing units damaged or destroyed The orderly shutdown of a transit system serving 8 million people Hundreds of thousands of meals delivered All requiring the mobilization of tens of thousands of emergency personnel, national guard units and citizen volunteers

Preparing our networks, systems and structures to withstand a major weather event

Ensuring the ability and capacity to effectively respond to a natural disaster

Action Recommendations
January 3, 2013

Integration and Coordination through a Statewide Network

1. Create a Statewide network of unified emergency training, coordination, protocols and communication
The State should establish a universal training protocol and institutionalize it at SUNY and CUNY
All county and local emergency personnel should receive this state-of-the-art training and be certified Provide greater operating authority for the State to coordinate local decisions in an emergency to protect public health and safety (e.g., gas rationing and curfews)

Stronger Buildings
2. Update the New York State Building Code
Promote smarter, resilient building performance Make improvements so that new construction and major renovations are better-prepared for our changing climate

Healthcare & Vulnerable Populations

3. Consider location and infrastructure vulnerabilities in Certificate of Need criteria when new construction or renovation of a healthcare facility or a major equipment purchase is proposed 4. Expand the use of Vulnerable Population databases so first responders, outreach workers, and healthcare and human services personnel can find and serve those who may need assistance

Access to Fuel
5. Require that gas stations in strategic locations have on-site back-up power capacity 6. Create a Strategic Fuel Reserve as a back-up to further protect New York State from temporary disruptions in fuel supply

Action Recommendations
January 3, 2013

Deploying Personnel
7. Specialized training for the National Guard for emergency response, including power restoration, swift water rescues, heavy equipment operation, crowd management and public safety 8. Establish a Civilian Emergency Response Corps
Electricians, pipefitters, line workers and debris removal tradespeople who can quickly be deployed to expedite recovery

9. Create a Statewide volunteer corps to mobilize and organize volunteers based on their skills, interests and resources

Equipment and Supplies

10. Establish a State Emergency Stockpile of essential supplies and equipment

Maintain enough generators, light towers and other equipment to effectively respond to an emergency
Add food, water and personal care items based on lessonslearned from Superstorm Sandy

11. Establish a Private Sector Emergency Response Task Force made up of chief logistics officers from key industry sectors e.g., food, beverages, energy storage who can deploy resources with a single call

Communication
12. Create NY-TEXT: a location-specific way to communicate with New York residents in an emergency 13. Establish an online one-stop shop for disaster response
Create a Resilient Information System that includes access to information, resources, and post-emergency financial and other assistance Use social medial, real-time mapping and other tools to provide up-to-the-minute information on emergency resources